Madman

Chen Changrui examined Gu Hao's condition. Li Banfeng had shoved the feather duster right into a vital spot; Gu Hao probably would not last much longer. What had he meant just now about magnetic storm weapons and coordinates? Chen Changrui said, "You don't have much time left. Hurry up and tell me about those coordinates." Gu Hao managed with difficulty, "Get me down first." With Li Banfeng, Gu Hao had not dared to make demands—a single extra word meant another feather duster shoved in. But with Chen Changrui, Gu Hao was far less cooperative. Chen Changrui could not do much with him either; after all, they had been colleagues for years. Whether he would actually fulfill a promise was another matter, but he could at least agree first. "Fine. Tell me the coordinates, and I'll take you down right away." "Get me down first, then I'll give you the coordinates. And you have to get me to a hospital as fast as possible. I don't want to die." "That's easy. I agree to everything. Just give me the coordinates first." Gu Hao shook his head. "Old Chen, don't play tricks on me. If you don't save me, you can forget about ever finding out where the base is." Chen Changrui's face darkened. "If you stall on matters this urgent, do you really think I'd still save you?" "Then we'll just wait it out! If I die waiting, it won't do you any good!" Chen Changrui barely listened to him. He had just received a message from Li Qi. The message laid out the exact coordinates of the magnetic storm weapon base and the license plate numbers of the vessels that traveled back and forth. Shen Jingye had originally instructed Gu Hao to relay this to Li Qi, telling him to pass the information along the moment he saw him. But Shen Jingye had never imagined Gu Hao was a mole. Chen Changrui told Gu Hao, "Never mind the coordinates for now. Tell me, where did Director Li go?" "He... should be looking for... our two masters—the chief and the vice." "Who are your two workshop masters?" "I can't... say... their names." "Where are they?" Gu Hao repeated his earlier line: "Get me down, and I'll tell you." He was dreaming. There was no way Chen Changrui was letting him down. "You'd better stay hanging there a few days longer. You're covered in Director Shen's blood. Let it dry out first." Chen Changrui turned and walked out of the villa. Gu Hao wanted to shout, but could hardly get the sound out. His voice was hoarse as he cried, "Don't go! Don't! Get me down! I'll apologize to Director Shen! I beg you, let me down...!" *** Leaving Yueming Garden, Chen Changrui immediately phoned Gao Yina. She sounded skeptical about the magnetic storm weapons. "Director Chen, regarding this matter, I hope we can proceed on the foundation of sufficient evidence—" Veins bulged on Chen Changrui's forehead. He had always been an easygoing man, but after so many years on the job, he knew anyone could spout bureaucratic platitudes; he simply disdained doing so. He cut Gao Yina off directly: "Director Gao, let me make things crystal clear to you. I've recorded this call. I'm not here to coordinate or discuss this with you—I am conducting an official handover. "The coordinates I obtained are precious intelligence Director Li bought with oceans of blood. To us, this is a military opportunity we cannot afford to delay. "The enemy's magnetic storm weapons can wipe out our communications equipment in short order. Many of our operational frameworks will be crippled. If the enemy deploys this weapon in war, we will be beaten so thoroughly that we won't even have the power to fight back. "If you are certain you can bear this responsibility, then I can follow procedure, collect evidence step by step, and pursue an investigation at leisure. "If you are deliberately making things difficult for me to shield the Hundred Demons Workshop, then I have every reason to suspect you are in contact with this criminal organization, or even colluding with the Third Planet of Dark Star!" Gao Yina fell silent for a long moment. Chen Changrui's momentum was terrifying. He claimed Li Qi had bought this clue with oceans of blood. Did Li Qi even have that much blood? Obviously, that was not the point! The point was the massive accusation Chen Changrui had just slapped on her. She could not shoulder the responsibility for a war, nor did she want any ties to the Hundred Demons Workshop. "Director Chen, I will organize a meeting immediately. Prepare a dossier as soon as possible—" "I don't have time to prepare dossiers! We must prepare for the coming war right now!" "Old Chen, calm down! Mobilizing resources on all fronts requires coordination!" *Smack!* Chen Changrui tossed the phone aside and slammed his fist against the steering wheel. *Director Li! Where did you go?!* *** Baiqiao Village, Jiacheng District. Inside a long-abandoned underground shopping mall, Du Wenming, dressed in a dark yellow tailcoat, was setting up his laboratory. Pei Yurong had told him to wear yellow, so he wore yellow. The funds were in place, the equipment had arrived, and the three hundred-plus workers Pei Yurong had arranged were all present. Du Wenming had truly not expected Pei Yurong to dispatch more than three hundred people. Her intention was blindingly obvious: she wanted round-the-clock, total surveillance over every step of his experiments. She wanted to guarantee that whatever Du Wenming produced here, she would be able to replicate. That grated heavily on Du Wenming. He glanced at Pei Yurong, cold hostility flickering in his eyes. Six people stood beside Pei Yurong—three men and three women. Seeing Du Wenming's expression shift, they adjusted their positions, shielding Pei Yurong between them. These six were top experts of the Outer States. Of course, that was only within the Outer States; if Du Wenming truly wanted to strike, everyone present combined could not stop him. Yet Du Wenming could not afford a fallout. Pei Yurong provided both the laboratory site and the equipment. Without her backing, Du Wenming tackling such an immense project alone would see the Dark Star Bureau knocking on his door within two days. Still, with so many people coming and going, could they truly keep it hidden from the bureau? Du Wenming lowered his voice and asked, "Are these people reliable?" Pei Yurong replied, "You know the rules of the Hundred Demons Workshop, and you understand the trials one must endure to join us. Even the painters over there have passed countless tests. If the workshop gave the order to murder their own parents, they wouldn't even bat an eye." Several workers were painting the walls—the color, once again, was dark yellow. Du Wenming said impatiently, "Master, there's no need to waste time on trivialities like painting. I'm eager to get to work." Pei Yurong smiled. "Don't worry, it won't hold you up. I bought this place six months ago, and the basic infrastructure is mostly complete. You'll need to teach them how to install the experimental apparatus, but for the utility systems, they'll run a test for you shortly." As she spoke, Pei Yurong called over a project supervisor and gave brief instructions. The supervisor directed the workers to test each core system one by one. These systems included water and power, ventilation, lighting, audio, and security. The standard utilities needed little scrutiny, but security could not be taken lightly. The project supervisor ordered a worker to test all the laboratory's exits. The laboratory had five exits in total: two primary exits and three emergency ones. The supervisor gave a brief explanation: "The three emergency exits are set to normally closed mode, while the two primary exits are in automatic mode. All five exits are equipped with inward-open and outward-open settings." Du Wenming was unfamiliar with their terminology. "What are inward-open and outward-open?" The supervisor explained, "In inward-open mode, the door cannot be opened from the outside, even with a key. It must be operated by personnel inside the laboratory to open. "Outward-open mode is the exact opposite. A key must be used from the outside to open the door, and all internal controls are disabled." Du Wenming frowned. "What's the point of outward-open mode? Are you trying to trap people inside the lab on purpose?" Pei Yurong said, "I had them design that to prevent intruders from leaking our secrets. Using outward-open mode traps an intruder inside the lab." Du Wenming was baffled. "If someone has the ability to infiltrate this facility, do you really think a single door can hold them?" Pei Yurong smiled. "The craftsmanship of these doors is exceptional. They can withstand the techniques of most dark adepts. We can demonstrate it for you right now." The supervisor called out, "Door Number One, outward-open mode, close the door!" The technician received the command and operated the controls. The shutter for Door Number One slowly descended. The door matched the color of the walls perfectly. From the outside, even the seams aligned with the brickwork. Unless one was intimately familiar with the lab, finding the door from the outside would be nearly impossible. Pei Yurong said to Du Wenming, "Why don't you give it a try? See if you can force it open with your abilities." Du Wenming understood now. This outward-open mode was not designed for outside intruders; it was tailored specifically for him. Pei Yurong worried that once he achieved experimental results, he would flee on the spot. "If the master put so much effort into making something fine, there's no need for me to test it," Du Wenming said with a meaningful smile. "Let them continue the tests." The supervisor ordered, "Continue the tests!" The technician flipped switches, and the remaining four exit doors closed one after another. Because testing was routine work, no one noticed anything amiss at first. Then Du Wenming asked, "All five doors are closed. Are they currently set to inward-open or outward-open?" The supervisor answered, "Doors One, Three, and Five are set to outward-open. Doors Two and Four are set to inward-open." Still uneasy, Du Wenming said, "Open Door Number Two. Let me see." The supervisor told the technician, "Open Door Number Two." The technician replied, "I can't. All five doors are currently in outward-open mode." The supervisor froze, and so did Du Wenming. "What are you doing?! If all five doors are outward-open, aren't we all locked in?!" the supervisor barked at the technician. Pei Yurong assumed it was a technician error. She quickly pulled out her phone to call personnel outside to unlock the doors. Du Wenming stared intently at the technician. Something felt off about this person. *Clang!* Before Pei Yurong could connect the call, a sickle flew through the air, smashing her phone to pieces. Amidst the flickering lights, the projector switched off its illusion. The technician in grey overalls vanished, replaced by a man in a suit and fedora. Because the brim was pulled low, no one could see his face—only the slight curl at the corners of his mouth. "Isn't it nice that no one can leave?" Li Banfeng looked up at the project supervisor. "I... I never said it wasn't!" Terrified, the supervisor scurried aside to hide. Li Banfeng swept his gaze across the crowd and added, "And isn't it wonderful that the Hundred Demons Workshop is gathered here, all neat and tidy?" "Li Qi!" Du Wenming exclaimed in shock. He was stunned not only by Li Qi's appearance, but by the fact that Li Qi had already infiltrated the lab and masqueraded as a technician right under his nose without him sensing a thing. Cries of panic erupted across the room. Pei Yurong's eyes widened. She had heard of Li Qi's reputation, as had many within the Hundred Demons Workshop. None of them had expected him to appear here. "Director Du, long time no see!" Li Banfeng walked toward Du Wenming step by step. Du Wenming glanced behind Li Banfeng and smiled faintly. "You dare come for me alone?" "Who said I came alone?" Li Banfeng smiled back. "I came too." Du Wenming frowned. "What are you talking about?" He was standing there by himself, yet claimed *he* had come too. What did that mean? "I'm here too!" Li Banfeng's tone shifted slightly, his smile brightening. "We've all come!" Du Wenming shook his head and sighed. "To think a madman like you can serve as a director in the Dark Star Bureau—what future could the bureau possibly have? Master, I'm a man who values ceremony. Play a song for me! I'm going to send this lunatic on his way!" Li Banfeng glanced around. "Which lunatic are you sending on his way?" Du Wenming looked toward Pei Yurong. "Hurry up and play the music! Can't you see this lunatic can't wait?" Pei Yurong was stunned for a moment. Du Wenming had not been joking; he genuinely wanted music. What was the point of playing music? With dance music playing, Du Wenming's combat power increased. He had fought Li Qi before, and it had ended in a draw. Now his strength had grown considerably; in his eyes, taking down Li Qi should be no trouble. Yet he never underestimated an enemy. For Li Qi to infiltrate the lab right under his nose was proof enough that he had to go all out to kill him. This was home turf; every advantage had to be seized. Li Qi did not rush him, standing aside and watching quietly. Pei Yurong shouted, "Hurry up and put on some music!" A member of the Hundred Demons Workshop took out a phone, pretending to connect it to the sound system, but intending to contact the outside and get the doors opened. The projector cast a beam of light, enveloping the workshop member. Beneath the halo of light, the member gradually vanished, leaving only a phone clattering to the floor. Li Banfeng smiled at the crowd. "I value ceremony very much as well. You may play music, but don't do anything else." No one dared move. Including Pei Yurong, not a single person dared reach for a phone again. Nor did anyone know what that projector-like object floating near the ceiling truly was. Du Wenming looked at Li Qi. "If you don't mind, I'll put on a piece myself. Sending you off with dignity isn't a bad thing." Li Banfeng kept his smile and gestured invitingly. Du Wenming felt a twinge of nervousness. This man did not seem like the Li Qi he had clashed with before. Was it simply because he had changed his clothes? Du Wenming took out a CD and started a dance track. It was a piece Du Wenming had composed himself, combining the grandeur and opulence of Baroque dance instrumentation with the brisk, tight rhythm of modern music. At first listen, the melody sounded somewhat comical, resembling a circus routine. Yet after listening a moment longer, one felt a madness creeping through the melody, an imminent sense of lethal dread lurking in the very next second. Du Wenming laughed. "This piece is called *Madman*. It suits you perfectly. Now, I'll send this lunatic on his way!" As the words left his mouth, Du Wenming flashed beside Li Banfeng, launching into his specialty: the puppet dance. He had chosen *Madman* not because it suited Li Banfeng, but because the sharp, staccato rhythm suited the jerky, mechanical steps of the puppet dance. The ornate Baroque style matched the era when puppets flourished, while the bizarre, abrupt tonal shifts allowed Du Wenming to unexpectedly alter his dance postures and strike down opponents. It was the battle dance that maximized his prowess. Li Banfeng's form vanished, seemingly avoiding close contact with Du Wenming. Du Wenming sneered, "Trying to dodge now? Too late! You can't escape this!" Moving to the music, both reappeared amidst the crowd. Six workers standing too close found themselves dancing along with Du Wenming. Du Wenming jerked his shoulders and snapped his head. All six snapped their heads in unison, snapping their necks. Li Banfeng was slightly farther away. He did not snap his head; his figure vanished once more. Du Wenming pursued relentlessly, meeting him again atop the ceiling rafters. Taking two steps, Du Wenming abruptly thrust out a leg. Two workers on the rafters thrust out their legs in unison, fracturing their pelvises, and plummeted to their deaths on the floor below. Li Banfeng did not kick. He still appeared unaffected by the Dance Cultivator technique. The distance was not great this time, and *Madman* was playing in full accompaniment—how could Li Qi not be affected? No, he *was* affected! Observing closely, Du Wenming noticed Li Banfeng's feet were moving to the rhythm, though his movements were subtle. Du Wenming's skill, Singing and Dancing in Celebration of Peace, was a Harmony skill. Even the characters Boss Lu summoned were forced to dance to it; Li Banfeng could not possibly avoid it. As for the smaller amplitude of his movements, that fell within Du Wenming's expectations. Li Qi possessed considerable cultivation; resisting with all his might would naturally cause discrepancies in his dance. According to the properties of Singing and Dancing in Celebration of Peace, the difference would be noticeable at first. Once the dancing reached a certain rhythm, the discrepancy would shrink to twenty or thirty percent. By the time Li Qi was fully subsumed by the beat, any remaining difference would be negligible. "If you want to dance, dance to your heart's content! Don't hold back!" Du Wenming closed in again. Li Banfeng nodded. "Well said!" Du Wenming hoisted a shoulder, and Li Banfeng hoisted his in unison. He was falling into the groove. Du Wenming jerked his shoulder sharply upward, like a marionette yanked by strings. This sudden change of movement would surely dislocate Li Banfeng's shoulder. Li Banfeng thrust his shoulder up to match, his force precise, leaving him completely unharmed. Du Wenming paused, startled to find that Li Qi was remarkably familiar with the puppet dance. Indeed, Li Banfeng loved the puppet dance. He often danced it alone, and sometimes danced it with his Wife. During that split-second hesitation, Li Banfeng executed a glide along the beam and vanished. Du Wenming hurriedly searched for him. By the western wall, he spotted a dark figure dancing. Black clothes, black suit—bearing a striking resemblance to Li Qi. Du Wenming flashed over, discovering this figure was also exceptionally skilled in the puppet dance, though his complexion was far darker than Li Qi's. *Is that the back of his head? Is that pitch-black mass hair? Why can't I see individual strands?* *Is this really Li Qi?* Pei Yurong shouted, "Behind you!" Startled, Du Wenming whipped his head around. Li Qi was dancing right behind him. Turning back, the dark figure in front was dancing too, its steps and posture identical, like Li Qi's shadow. *He can control shadows?* He knew that above-the-clouds homestead cultivators possessed the skill Comforting One's Own Shadow. Yet Li Qi could not be a homestead cultivator; homestead and travel pathways were mutually exclusive. Even without being a homestead cultivator, there were other ways to manipulate shadows: the extremely rare Shadow Cultivators, or unorthodox techniques outside the established pathways. Du Wenming had seen plenty of strange arts within the Hundred Demons Workshop. While dancing, Du Wenming asked Li Qi, "Is this your shadow? You gained this bit of trickery and dared come after me? You should take this circus act to a carnival. Why embarrass yourself in front of me?" Li Banfeng did not answer. In time with the dance track, he and the shadow glided together, shifting smoothly from the western wall all the way to the eastern wall. He could still act autonomously, though he had clearly entered the dance state. Fearing the skill Viewing Flowers from Horseback, Du Wenming glided after them in pursuit. Two men and one shadow traversed the room. Wherever they passed, dozens of bystanders were forced to dance along. Du Wenming snapped a leg out, dislocating the hips of dozens of people. The shadow's movement was slightly exaggerated, causing it to stumble. Yet Li Banfeng maintained solid footwork, remaining unscathed. *He's already trapped in the music's rhythm, yet he can still endure?* With Du Wenming's current power, anyone who danced with him had their life clenched in his palm. For someone like Li Banfeng to hold out this long after joining the dance was exceedingly rare. At the track's next musical transition, Du Wenming raised his left leg, lifting his toes over his shoulder to hook behind his neck. This move was not fast; Li Banfeng could easily follow the motion, but his flexibility was certainly inferior to Du Wenming's. Du Wenming intended to use this move to snap Li Banfeng's leg entirely. The shadow raised its leg, hooking its toes behind the back of its head. Having hooked it, it did not forget to remark, "Ouch, that stings!" Du Wenming was shocked. *This shadow can talk?!* Li Banfeng's leg did not go up all the way—it only rose halfway, not even reaching his waist. Du Wenming was baffled. Why was Li Qi still refusing to follow his movements? He was already caught in the rhythm of the dance. Probability—it had to be a matter of probability. He was right. It *was* a matter of probability. Li Qi was under his control most of the time, except for crucial steps where he broke free. Those crucial steps were hard-won, ground out through the sheer physical constitution of a homestead cultivator standing on his own doorstep. The shadow behind Du Wenming danced as it explained on Li Banfeng's behalf, "It's not that he's dancing poorly. It's that you're dancing wrong." Du Wenming could not fathom that. *What do you mean, I'm dancing wrong?* A black shadow to his left said, "You really are dancing wrong." A black shadow to his right said, "If you danced correctly, he'd be dancing just like you." A shadow walking up from the front said, "You don't match him, which means you made a mistake." A shadow following from behind said, "If the dance is wrong, the Dance Cultivator skill is definitely wrong too!" Du Wenming started in fright. Looking around, he discovered six shadows—and including Li Banfeng, seven figures surrounded him. Du Wenming had never seen such a technique. Although Li Qi and the six shadows were all dancing along with him, Du Wenming could sense that among the seven, one or two would slip from his control from time to time. He could not let himself be encircled, or he would be in grave danger. Du Wenming leaped toward the center of the laboratory. Li Qi arrived alongside his shadows, their stride length and tempo matching Du Wenming's to perfection, their positions mirroring their previous layout exactly. A shadow beside him remarked, "The steps were right that time." Another shadow added, "As long as we're all identical, it's correct." Du Wenming had not intended for them to imitate that leap, yet they had mirrored it without the slightest deviation. *Just who is controlling whom?!* Panicking, Du Wenming flashed into a corner. Standing in a corner with walls on both sides left no room to be surrounded. Yet he was still surrounded. The shadows maintained their formations. Three clung to the walls, yet their steps remained in sync with Du Wenming's. The shadow before him suddenly skipped a step, and Du Wenming skipped a step along with it. *Why did I skip?* Du Wenming had not intended to skip. He had no idea why he had followed the shadow's lead. *If you don't match him, it proves your Dance Cultivator skill went wrong.* Du Wenming was visibly affected by those words. Why had he let a single phrase sway him? A shadow behind him reminded him, "Don't dance in the corner! The audience can't see us!" With those words, the shadows leaped into the middle of the crowd. Uncontrollably, Du Wenming was dragged into the middle of the crowd as well. He continued dancing, the Dance Cultivator skill propagating outward. Du Wenming's dance spread from one person to the next as the power of the Harmony skill erupted. One after another, everyone in the laboratory began to dance. The experts guarding Pei Yurong had been exercising restraint, but after less than twenty seconds, they could no longer hold back and began dancing along with Du Wenming. Li Banfeng leaned forward, and the shadows leaned forward with him. Du Wenming leaned forward in turn, dragging the crowd forward with him. Many lost their footing and crashed to the floor. Li Banfeng's hat nearly fell off; he reached up to secure it, and the shadows clutched their hats as well. Du Wenming led the crowd in slapping their own heads, battering themselves until blood flowed. The laboratory resounded with dull thuds. Several people struck so hard they fractured their own skulls. Li Banfeng thrust out a leg, and everyone thrust out a leg in unison, accompanied by the endless snapping of bones. Pei Yurong had just smashed her own forehead, her face drenched in blood. She screamed, "Du Wenming, stop!" That shout cleared Du Wenming's head slightly. Singing and Dancing in Celebration of Peace was a Harmony skill. Relying on it, Du Wenming had even traded blows with Zhou Badou; its might was beyond question. Yet Du Wenming knew more than just Singing and Dancing in Celebration of Peace. Right now, Singing and Dancing in Celebration of Peace was clearly being turned against him. Regardless of what technique lay behind those words, Du Wenming could feel he was being controlled. The injury on his head was proof—he had struck himself. What Li Qi might make him do next was completely unpredictable. He could not keep fighting like this! Switch techniques! Two short blades slipped from Du Wenming's sleeves—exquisite weapons rarely seen in this world. Gripping the blades, he spun on the spot. Over a dozen people around him were severed at the waist. Such was the lethal power of these blades: a mere graze against the edge, anywhere on the body, was enough to slice someone in two. Li Qi was an exceptionally high-tier Travel Cultivator; cutting him directly would be extraordinarily difficult, but Du Wenming had his own methods. Crossing his toes, his body lifted from the ground, soaring and weaving through the air like a swimming dragon. Wherever the blade-light flashed, blood sprayed in torrents. Dance Cultivator skill: Roaming Dragon Without Bounds. He struck so fast that even Li Banfeng could barely follow his movements. He did not seek precision, only speed, cutting down anyone in his path regardless of friend or foe. It seemed like indiscriminate slaughter, but Du Wenming's mind was crystal clear. Now that Li Qi was here, this was a fight to the death. If he wanted to live, he had to kill Li Qi—at any cost, Li Qi had to die. Du Wenming danced faster and faster. Several subordinates shielded Pei Yurong as they quickly backed away. Li Banfeng relied on Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Disaster to maneuver around Du Wenming, while the six shadows continuously stepped in front to parry the blades. The shadows severed in two immediately surged back, continuing to battle Du Wenming. After a dozen seconds, heavily depleted, Du Wenming temporarily halted the technique. He had slaughtered many people, yet the shadows only multiplied the more he cut. He was trapped in a siege. Why were there more shadows every time he cut them down? Du Wenming could not comprehend it. "Is this... also a Harmony skill?" The dance music reached its climax. All the instruments swelled together, the melody surging like tempestuous waves, magnificent and rolling. Li Banfeng smiled. "This song is called *Madman*, right?" Du Wenming did not answer, gathering strength for his next technique. "It's a wonderful piece. It reminds me of a fine technique," Li Banfeng said with a chuckle. "Mad Cultivator skill: Torn Apart by Five Horses!" Du Wenming tapped his toes, launching Roaming Dragon Without Bounds once more. But just as his body transformed into a swimming dragon, Li Banfeng let out a roar: "*Hu-ya-ya-ya!*" Sprawling Compound—Li Banfeng borrowed a Sound Cultivator skill. The music shifted key, its tempo abruptly accelerating. Du Wenming's footwork faltered. Four shadows seized his torso while three others grabbed his left leg. The seven shadows pulled together, tearing Du Wenming's left leg clean off. Hopping on one foot, Du Wenming lunged toward Door Number One, desperate to flee. Li Banfeng cut him off, kicking him back. Four shadows caught Du Wenming again, and three shadows stepped forward. With a sickening tear, they ripped off his right leg. Using both hands, Du Wenming scrambled toward Door Number Three. Just as he went to open it, Li Banfeng grabbed him by the head. Du Wenming screamed, "Li Qi, I know how to break the Boundary! I'll tell you! I'll tell you everything! I'm useful to you—immensely useful!" Li Banfeng smiled. "In a little while, come to my office. I'll introduce you to someone." With those words, seven shadows surged forward, tearing off Du Wenming's right arm. With only his left arm remaining, Du Wenming still tried to strike back. Li Banfeng pinned his left hand underfoot, and seven shadows swarmed in, tearing his body away from his arm. Stripped of all four limbs, Du Wenming was still shouting, "I'm the only person in this world who can break the Boundary! If you kill me, you'll never—" Li Banfeng grabbed Du Wenming's head once more, twisted his wrist, and snapped his cervical spine. Du Wenming was not yet dead; cultivators above the clouds did not die easily, and a final breath still clung to him. Li Banfeng opened his companion dwelling and shoved Du Wenming inside. Where had Du Wenming gone? Where had Li Qi thrown him? Around two hundred people remained in the laboratory, all staring at Li Qi in horror. Li Qi smiled. "No need to be curious. If any of you are lucky, you'll see him shortly." Pei Yurong shrank behind the crowd, her face pale as a sheet as she looked at Li Qi. She did not know where Li Qi had sent Du Wenming, but she knew not a single person present could stop him. Summoning her courage, she shouted at Li Qi, "I am Lavshan! You are from the Dark Star Bureau—you cannot kill me! I am a person of status among the Lavshans!" Li Banfeng glanced at the projector. "This song is lovely. Play it again." The projector operated the CD player, starting the track from the beginning. The two hundred-plus people fell into absolute chaos. Some set up arrays, some initiated rituals, some fell to their knees begging for mercy, and others hurled themselves frantically against the doors. A ripple of light suddenly shimmered along the walls. Anyone near the perimeter had a layer of skin and flesh peeled away, weeping and howling in agony. The dance music of *Madman* echoed throughout the hall. Moving to the beat, Li Banfeng and his shadows stepped into a brisk, lighthearted dance. "What a splendid song. It reminds me of another wonderful technique. Mad Cultivator skill: Rivers of Blood!" Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his hat, a smile spreading across his face. Every shadow drew a weapon, smiling along with Li Qi.